Category Archives: Ippon Kumite Kata

This Ippon Kumite Kata begins with Soft Block #3 and continues with a Shuto or knifehand to the throat targeting the larnyx. Next, the defender executes an outside wrist throw or Kote Gashi to take the attacker to the ground. Then he stomps to the attacker’s brachial plexus to traumatize the arm, and hyperextends his elbow in preparation for an arm-bar roll-over into a shoulder pin.

At his point the defender checks his back for any additional attackers before deciding to continue with the defense. He places his knee across the attacker’s shoulder blades in a 45-degree angle to complete the shoulder pin, then transitions into a bar hammer lock to further disable the attacker. The Ippon is completed with an eye-gouge/cervical crank followed by a head smash and shoulder roll escape.

Note: Be extremely careful when practicing this transition with a training partner as it is easy to overextend the shoulder joint. The defender should use his right hand to gently bend his partner’s elbow while transitioning into this lock.

This instructional training video was filmed at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan and produced by one of our American Tactical Ju-jitsu students, Catherine Hartman. Many thanks to her and Bernie Stone, the uke in this video.

Disclaimer: The videos and posts contained in this website are designed to augment instruction under the guidance and care of a qualified and competent martial arts instructor. They are designed as a resource for students only. Practicing these techniques can result in serious injury or death to either the attacker or defender. Ray Nash, the Police Dynamics Institute, and other participants in the design of the training materials presented on this site assume no liability for the practice or execution of any of these techniques. Full liability and risk is assumed by any person choosing to practice them.

This Ippon Kumite Kata begins with Soft Block #2 to the outside and continues with an arm break, which is also Soft Block #7, delivered to the attacker’s elbow. This is followed by a reverse palm heel strike to the attacker’s chin which turns his head away from the defender. The next technique is a roundhouse kick to the common peroneal nerve immediately followed by an outside foot sweep.

Once the attacker is down, the defender hyperextends the attacker’s arm and delivers a stomping kick to his brachial plexus to traumatize the nerve structure supporting the right arm. At this point, the defender performs an armbar assisted rollover using his shin as a fulcrum and his left hand as a “C-clamp” to direct the attacker to roll over.

Once the attacker is prone, the defender administers a shoulder pin by creating a 90-degree angle between the attacker’s arm and body as well as a 90-degree angle between the attacker’s arm and the ground.

Note: limits on the attacker’s range of motion in his shoulder joint may make it impractical to attain an exact 90-degree angle. Be particularly careful when performing the shoulder pin with a training partner.

The shoulder pin is completed by the defender placing his knee across the attacker’s shoulder blade at a 45-degree angle pinning him to the ground and maintaining a basic wrist lock (ikkyo).

At this point, the defender quickly checks his back for additional attackers, then, if it safe to do so, transitions to a bar hammer lock by shifting his left knee across the attacker’s lower back and pinning his triceps with the defender’s right foot. Note: Be extremely careful when practicing this transition with a training partner as it is easy to overextend the shoulder joint. The defender should use his right hand to gently bend his partner’s elbow while transitioning into this lock.

Once the bar hammer lock is applied, the defender can deliver a verbal command for the attacker to place his other hand behind his back. Then the defender executes a cervical crank/eye gouge (the attacker’s hair, if he has any, can also be pulled to apply the cervical crank). Next is a head smash into the ground with a palm heel strike followed by a shoulder roll escape.

This instructional training video was filmed at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan and produced by one of our American Tactical Ju-jitsu students, Catherine Hartman. Many thanks to her and Bernie Stone, the uke in this video.

Disclaimer: The videos and posts contained in this website are designed to augment instruction under the guidance and care of a qualified and competent martial arts instructor. They are designed as a resource for students only. Practicing these techniques can result in serious injury or death to either the attacker or defender. Ray Nash, the Police Dynamics Institute, and other participants in the design of the training materials presented on this site assume no liability for the practice or execution of any of these techniques. Full liability and risk is assumed by any person choosing to practice them.

Developed by Grandmaster Joe Hess and sometimes called the Slap Technique, this Ippon Kumite Kata is a defense against a Front Choke Attack with arms extended. Here is a move by move breakdown of the technique:

1 - Suck, Tuck, and Duck

2 - Palm Heel Strike

1 – Suck, Tuck and Duck. Anytime your airway is threatened, immediately Suck in some air, Tuck your chin to protect your larnyx, and Duck by dropping your bodyweight in preparation for the next move.

3 - Palm Heel Strike

4 - Backhand Block

5 - Trap

5 - Eagle Claw Grip

6 - Palm Heel Strike to Chin

6 - Eye Gouge

6 - Foot Placement

7 - Outside Leg Sweep

7 - Outside Leg Sweep

7 - Outside Leg Sweep

8 - Hyperextend Elbow

8 - Stomp Kick to Brachial Plexus

9 - Arm Bar Rollover

9 - Arm Bar Rollover

2 – Palm Heel Strike with the right hand to the attacker’s right wrist to begin the process of breaking the hold. Be sure to strike near the wrist, not the arm or forearm, as this will provide more leverage. And just move the attacker’s hand far enough to break contact with your neck. This strike is very much like #6 of the Soft Blocking System.

3 – Palm Heel Strike with your left hand. This is the same technique as #2 on the opposite side and equates to #5 of the Soft Blocking System.

4 – Backhand Block with your right hand to “check” attacker’s left hand. This momentarily protects against a strike or attempt to reapply the choke. Movements 3 and 4 are similar to the movement of Soft Block #10. Note: Movements 2-4 should be done in rapid succession generating power from the hips.

5 – Trap. After breaking the chokehold, circle your left arm over the attacker’s right and trap with an eagle claw grip right above the elbow.

6 – Palm Heel Strike to the chin, driving the attacker’s head back and off-setting his balance to the rear. The strike is followed by an eye gouge. During the Palm Heel Strike, step up with your left foot so that it is approximately even with the attacker’s right foot. This sets him up for the sweep in the next move.

7 – Outside Leg Sweep with your right leg to the attacker’s right. Be sure to raise your knee and kick the leg out aggressively while maintaining control of his right arm on the way down.

8 – Stomp Kick. Slide your left hand up to grip the attacker’s right hand in a basic wrist lock, hyper-extend his elbow, and Stomp Kick to stun the brachial plexus.

9 – Arm Bar Rollover. Place your right palm against the attacker’s elbow and apply pressure to effect the rollover. Be sure to walk around the attacker’s head as you roll him over.

10 - Shoulder Pin

10 - Shoulder Pin

11 - Bar Hammer Lock (be careful with partner's elbow)

11 - Bar Hammer Lock

10 – Shoulder Pin. After placing the attacker into a prone position, try to attain a 90-degree angle with his arm in relation to his body and in relation to the ground. His range of motion in the shoulder joint will determine the angle. Then apply pressure on his wrist by pressing his fingers toward the back of his head. This is a good point to check your back for other attackers. If all is clear, finish the shoulder pin by placing your right knee diagonally across the attacker’s shoulder blade and use your left leg to maintain the arm bar.

12 - Cervical Crank

11 – Bar Hammer Lock. To convert the Shoulder Pin into a Bar Hammer Lock, bend the attacker’s arm and pivot on your feet so that your left knee is across the attacker’s lower back. [Be careful to use your right hand to assist your partner with this movement during training. Failure to do so can result in serious injury to his elbow.] Maintain the wrist lock and adjust your right foot so that it locks against the attacker’s triceps to prevent him from pulling out of the hold.

12 - Cervical Crank

12 – Cervical Crank. Hyperextend the attacker’s cervical vertebrae by grasping the bridge above his eyes (with an optional eye gouge), or his hair (unless he doesn’t have any hair, like Bernie), and pulling back.

13 - Head Smash

13 – Head Smash. After the Cervical Crank, finish the technique by smashing the attacker’s head into the ground.

The Ippon Kumite Kata, or One-Point Fighting Forms, are the foundation of the practical application of the American Tactical Ju-jitsu System. Each ippon is named after the attack it is designed to defend against. The first 10 defenses for a straight punch attack correspond to the first 10 movements of the Soft Blocking System. So the first move in the Straight Punch #1 Ippon is a Soft Block #1.

This instructional training video, comprising part of the ATJ yellow belt curriculum, was filmed at the Focal Point Dojo in Summerville, SC and produced by my senior brown belt and long-time training partner, Tom Epperson. Tom was the first to suggest that the Straight Punch Ippons correspond to the Soft Blocking System sequence and I am grateful for his insight in that respect as well as his unwavering support for the ATJ system. The uke in this video is my son and first ATJ Black Belt, Jordan

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A.T.J.

American Tactical Ju-jitsu is a street-oriented, "blended" martial art. This website is dedicated to two martial arts legends who contributed greatly to the development of ATJ:
Grandmaster Joe Hess (American Tactical Goju) and
Professor Rob Evans (Modern Vee-jitsu).

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Disclaimer

The videos and posts contained in this website are designed to augment instruction under the guidance and care of a qualified and competent martial arts instructor. They are designed as a resource for students only. Practicing these techniques can result in serious injury or death to either the attacker or defender. Ray Nash, the Police Dynamics Institute, Focal Point Martial Arts, and other participants in the design of the training materials presented on this site assume no liability for the practice or execution of any of these techniques. Full liability and risk is assumed by any person choosing to practice them.